Sterilizer



Feb. 26, 1933 w, H. GRAHM ETAL 3,078,525

STERLIZER Filed July 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS W/u/AM H. GzAHM V52 Lanes 2r Arrozuavs.

Feb. 26, 1963 w. H. GRAHM ETAL 3,07

- STERLIZER Filed July 5, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTORS WILLIAM H- GZAHM BY V524 L. Gasser Feb. 26, 1963 w. H. GRAHM ETAL STERLIZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1961 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. G'ZAHM V521. L.GH.BEZT BY Arrozuav's.

Feb. 26, 1963 w. H. GRAHM ETAL STERLIZER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 5, 1961 M III I l I ll 0 M T l IAHH flIlIIII A .\\\\\\\\\\\\\F\W\\l M M .m m P U Q Q m e a w ME mi 2 .Q m GA & a 0 c u a A aw W Y B United States PatentOfihce 3,078,525 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,078,525 STERILIZER William H. Grahm, 1044 Lincoln Ave., Beloit, Wis., and Verl L. Gilbert, R.F.D. 1, Winnebago County, Ill. Filed July 5, 1961, Ser. No. 122,003 2 Claims. (Cl. 21-91) This invention relates to a sterilizer, and more particularly to a sterilizer for hosp'tal beds or similar articles.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a portable sterilizing apparatus which will completely, simply, and expeditiously sterilize a hospital bed, and into which the bed may be wheeled with a minimum of effort and difficult.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be expanded for use with various vison of a device which may be adjusted by means of an electric motor, so that the adjustment may be effected with a minimum of time, effort, and difii-culty.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sterilizer of this character which will be portable, sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflic'ent in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and utilize.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of element-s, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and dsclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of sterilizer embodying features of the instant invention, certain concealed elements being indicated in dotted lines.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the device of FIG. '1 shown in operative position with the doors closed.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the device in storage position, with the doors folded back.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the sterilizer illustrating the operating mechanism used to expand the section-s.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on lines 9-9 of FIG. 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on lines 1tl--10 of FIG. 8.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and includes two complementary half sections 11 and 12 which are substantially identical but opposite. Each of the sections 11 and 12 includes a vertical side wall portion 11a and 12a, respectively, which merges through an arcuate corner 11b and 12b into a partial top wall 11c and 12c.

commodate a bed which is to be steril'zed. The distance that the sections 11 and 12 are moved can be varied at the will of the operator whereby beds of various dimensions, within the range of the apparatus, can be accommodated.

When the sterilizer is not in use the sections 11 and 12 are moved together as shown in FIG. 3 whereby the apparatus can be stored in a miuirnum of space.

The operating means 13 for the sections 11 and 12 is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and shown in detail in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. Fixed to the top 11c of section 11 are a pair of plates 14 and 15, each having vertically extending pivot pins 16 and 17. Identical plates 14' and 15' are secured to the top 12c of section 12 at points adjacent the plates 14 and 15 secured to the top 110 of section 11.

Theplates 14 and 15 are also provided with vertically extending pivot pins 16 and 17'. Extending substantially the entire longitudinal dimension of the sterilizer 10 is a rotatable operating rod 13 having threaded end sections 19 and 20, the threads on 20 being cut opposite those shown at 19. Traveling nuts 21 and 21' are threadedly engaged on the end sections of operating rod 18, each of the traveling nuts 21 and 21 has depending downwardly therefrom pivot pins 22 and 22', only one of which is shown. Link members 23 and 23 are pivotally secured at one end to pivot pin 22 of traveling nut 21 and at the other ends to the pivot pins 16 and 16' extending outwardly from plates 14 and 14 secured to the tops 11c and 120 of sections 11 and 12, respectively. Link members 24 and 24 are each pivotally secured to the downwardly extending pivot pin 22 and traveling nut 21', and at their other ends pivotally fixed to extending pins 17 and 17 on plateslS and 15' secured to the tops 11c and 126 of the sections 11 and 12. The operating rod 18 is rotatably supported'in a plurality of identical bearing blocks 25 which are fixed to guide rods 58 as shown in FIG. 10. A plurality of slide members 59 shown secured .to the top 11c of section 11 and slide members 59' are shown secured to the top 120 of section 12, the slide members 59 and 59 are provided with a centrally disposed longitudinalbore throughwhich guide rods 58.ex-

tend. Upon rotation of the rod 18 in a clockwise direction the traveling nuts 21 and 21 will move inwardly from the ends thereof causing through link members 23, 23, 24, 24' and their associated pivot pins, the sections 11 and 12 to move away from each other to the position shown in dotted lines. A crank 60 is shown fixed to the end of rod 18 to accomplish rotation of the same. However, other suitable means can be used.

Each section 11 and 12- is provided at its opposite end with a door, 27 and 28, respectively, the doors being provided with complementary latching mechanism 29 to retain the same in closed position over the ends of the device when the sterilizer is in operative position. Each door is mounted, as best shown in FIG. 6, on hinges 30, which hinges project outwardly from the adjacent side walls and are each in turn secured to an L-shaped bracket 31 which is hinged on a pin 33 to a second L-shaped bracket 34 mounted on the exterior of the adjacent side wall, the arrangement thus being such that the doors may fold completely back to the position as disclosed in FIG. 3 or to an out-of-the-way position when the sterilizer is in storage or inoperative position. Suitable latch members 35 are provided on each side wall for retaining the doors in open position.

In order to close the top of the sterilizer when in extended position a flexible shield or curtain 40 isrprovided which may be of any desired material, and which may be fixedly secured to the underside of each of top walls 110 and 12c as indicated at 41, or which alternatively, may be rolled on a conventional spring roller 42, such as customarily used *in a window shade, in order to roll to an out-of-the-way position when the device is stored or not in use.

Extending inwardly from each of the side walls of sections 11 and 1-2 are brackets 43 through which a plurality of stems 45 are slidably secured. I At the lower end of stems 45 are caster brackets 46 which carry caster wheels 47, the wheels thus mounted at each end of the device permit ready transportation from place to place,

if desired. Suitable means 61 are provided to retract the casters 47 from an operative to an inoperative position whereby when the sections have been adjusted to accommodate the bed which is to be sterilized, the casters 47 can be retracted allowing the sterilizer to rest on the floor.

The actual sterilizing is effected by a plurality of ultra violet lamps 50 which'are arranged in longitudinally extending pairs and parallel rows on the inner sides of each side wall. The lamps are in electrical association through conduits 51, and providedwith a control switch 52. Currentis supplied from any'desired external source in order to effect light sterilization in a known manner.

The lamps are mounted in conventional mounting units 53, which-contain the necessary accessories.

, ;A V-shaped guiderail 55 extends longitudinally of each side wall 11a and 12a to protect the lamps 50 from accidental-damage by a bed B or the like positioned in the sterilizer.

sterili'zation has been effected. Obviously, as many beds as desired may be sterilized in a simple and expeditious manner.

When the sterilization operation is finished the'rod 18 is rotated in the opposite or counterclockwise direction and the side walls, after folding the doors back to the position shown in FIG. 3', are moved inwardly to the position shown in FIG, 3, the device rolling on the wheels 57 to any desired locality for storage until further use is required From the foregoing-it will now be 'seen that there is 4 herein, provided an improved sterilizer, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, andas many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefiore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A sterilizing apparatus adapted to sterilize a complete hospital bed in assembled condition, comprising a pair of opposed side walls, ultraviolet sterilizing elements mounted on the inner'side of each of said side walls,

connecting means for the tops of said walls, means operatively associated with said connecting means to move said walls towards and away from each other to convert the apparatus from a laterally expanded position for use to a laterally contracted storage position, an interior guard rail mounted on the inner side of said side wall in spaced relation thereto to protect said sterilizing elements, said means for moving the walls towards and away from each other including pivot pins fixed to the top of each of said walls in aligned relation, slide members fixed to the top of each of said walls in aligned relation and each having substantially centrally disposed bores, guide rods extending through the bores in said aligned slide members,

bearing blocks fixed to said guide rods intermediate their ends, a longitudinally extending shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks and having externally oppositely threaded end portions, nut members having internally threaded bores on each end of said rotatable shaft and cooperatively engaging the threads thereon, pivot pins on said nu't members and links pivotally secured at one of their ends to the pivot pins on said nut members and at their other ends to the pivot pins fixed to the top ofi each of the walls of said sterilizer.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each side Wall is provided ateach end with a hinged door rotatable from a position closing the open end of the apparatus when in "expanded position to a position substantially fiush with theexterior of'the side wall when in contracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,258 Medearis Dec. 14, 1920 1,961,700 Moehler June 5, 1934 2,482,367 Ravers Sept. 20, 1949 2,587,094 Berg et a1 Feb. 26, 1952 

1. A STERILIZING APPARATUS ADAPTED TO STERILIZE A COMPLETE HOSPITAL BED IN ASSEMBLED CONDITION, COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, ULTRAVIOLET STERILIZING ELEMENTS MOUNTED ON THE INNER SIDE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, CONNECTING MEANS FOR THE TOPS OF SAID WALLS, MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CONNECTING MEANS TO MOVE SAID WALLS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO CONVERT THE APPARATUS FROM A LATERALLY EXPANDED POSITION FOR USE TO A LATERALLY CONTRACTED STORAGE POSITION, AN INTERIOR GUARD RAIL MOUNTED ON THE INNER SIDE OF SAID SIDE WALL IN SPACED RELATION THERETO TO PROTECT SAID STERILIZING ELEMENTS, SAID MEANS FOR MOVING THE WALLS TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER INCLUDING PIVOT PINS FIXED TO THE TOP OF EACH OF SAID WALLS IN ALIGNED RELATION, SLIDE MEMBERS FIXED TO THE TOP OF EACH OF SAID WALLS IN ALIGNED RELATION AND EACH HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY DISPOSED BORES, GUIDE RODS EXTENDING THROUGH THE BORES IN SAID ALIGNED SLIDE MEMBERS, BEARING BLOCKS FIXED TO SAID GUIDE RODS INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING BLOCKS AND HAVING EXTERNALLY OPPOSITELY THREADED END PORTIONS, NUT MEMBERS HAVING INTERNALLY THREADED BORES ON EACH END OF SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT AND COOPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE THREADS THEREON, PIVOT PINS ON SAID NUT MEMBERS AND LINKS PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE OF THEIR ENDS TO THE PIVOT PINS ON SAID NUT MEMBERS AND AT THEIR OTHER ENDS TO THE PIVOT PINS FIXED TO THE TOP OF EACH OF THE WALLS OF SAID STERILIZER. 